Dubai, Aug. 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wooed the Indian diaspora in the UAE, saying that he saw a mini India in Dubai where all Indians living in the gulf nation are connected to each and every corner of India.
The crowd cheered the Prime Minister as he praised the NRIs for their praiseworthy conduct and their perseverance in everyday endeavours.
“I can see a ‘mini India’ in front of me. I salute all Indians, who have come from every corner of UAE. You are among those who are earning livelihood here for 15-20 years and continue to make India proud through your conduct,” he said while addressing the Indian diaspora in the Dubai Cricket Stadium.
“People from Kerala are in UAE in large numbers. And I am especially talking about them due to the New Year festival today. Dubai is not just ‘mini India’ but a ‘mini world’. People from across the world live here. Even those from the coldest region come in the country despite hot temperature,” he added.
The Prime Minister’s speech was punctuated with the chants of ‘Modi Modi’ which the packed stadium erupted into every time he paused.
Amid the chants, the Prime Minister conveyed that he is overwhelmed by the love Dubai has given him.
“His Highness Crown Prince came to receive me at the airport with all his five brothers. But this love is not just for me. It is the welcome of the 1.25 crore people of India, it is the respect for a change India,” he said.
Recalling when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and India had carried out nuclear tests that had stunned the whole world, Prime Minister Modi said, “Sanctions were imposed overnight on India, we were pushed into trouble. It was then that Vajpayee had asked Indians across the globe to help India. Today, I can proudly say, Vajpayee’s request of helping India has been fulfilled by Indians in Gulf countries.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the world’s inclination towards India has increased, adding that Indians must take advantage of this and take the nation to new heights of development. (ANI)